Easy opening can end with embossed panel

ABSTRACT

A can end is provided which has a circular score in it defining a removable panel, a rigid pull tab attached to the removable panel adjacent the score line, and an X-shaped embossment in the removable panel to control bending of the panel during removal.

- United States Patent Schultz et al.

EASY OPENING CAN END WITH- EMBOSSED PANEL Inventors: Fred R. Schultz.Lower Burrell;

James R. Morran, New Kensington,

both of Pa.

Assignee: Aluminum Company of America,

Pittsburgh, Pa.

Filed: July 19, 1973 Appl. No.: 380,990

U.S. Cl. 220/273, 220/276 Int. Cl B65d 17/20 Field of Search 220/54, 48,72, 74, 27

[ Apr. 1, 1975 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,485,41012/1969 Boik 220/54 3,662,9l6 5/1972 Holk, Jr. 220/54 PrimaryExaminerGeorge T. Hall Attorney, Agent, or Firm-David M. Brownlee [57]ABSTRACT A can end is provided which has a circular score in it defininga removable panel, a rigid pull tab attached to the removable paneladjacent the score line, and an X-shaped embossment in the removablepanel to control bending of the panel during removal.

8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures EASY OPENING CAN END WITH EMBOSSED PANELBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This inventionrelates to easy opening can ends, and in particular to a can end havingmeans therein to facilitate severance of a removable panel from the canend.

2. Description of the Prior Art It is known to provide reinforcementmeans such as ribs and/or embossments in a removable panel in a can endto either control or prevent bending of the panel during opening as isdisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,430,802; 3,478,918; 3,591,037 and3,653,536 among others. Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 3,441,171 disclosesa rectangular embossment in the center of a rectangular removable paneland arcuate indentations adjacent each corner of the embossment toreduce flexure of the panel portion. U.S. Pat. No. 3,662,916 is also ofinterest for its disclosure of a relatively large V-shaped embossment ina circular removable panel.

The prior art is lacking in the disclosure of means in a circular full,pull-out removable panel for obviating the necessity to hold the centerof the paneldown with the thumb or the like during removal of the panel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention provides an easy opening can endhaving a circular score defining a removable panel, a rigid pull tabattached to the removable panel, and an X- shaped embossment in theremovable panel to control bending of the panel during removal thereof.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide means in aremovable panel for controlling bending of the panel during opening.

Another object of the invention is to provide a can end having aremovable panel with an X-shaped embossment therein to obviate the needto hold the center of the panel down during removal thereof.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be more fullyunderstood and appreciated with reference to the following descriptionand the drawings appended hereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a can endof the invention,

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view through the can end of FIG. 1 securedon a can,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating initiation of opening of a canend of the invention,

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating initiation of opening of acan end of the invention, and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating completion of opening of acan end of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION further includean anti-fracture score, not shown, which runs parallel to score line 18as is well known in the art.

In accordance with this invention, removable panel 20 in can end 10includes an X-shaped embossment 26 located centrally in the panel tocontrol bending thereof during severance of the panel from the can end.A square finger well 30 may be located in the center of the embossmentto facilitate gripping of tab 20 and to further reinforce the panel. Inthe embodiment selected for illustration, embossment 26 is formeddownwardly in removable panel 20 or toward the inside of can 12, but itcan also be formed upwardly in the panel if desired. Legs 28 ofembossment 26 preferably extend radially outwardly from the corners offinger well 30 to within relatively close proximity of score line 18around removable panel 20. Legs 28 preferably have approximatelyincluded angles therebetween, but this is not considered to be critical.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a diametrical line drawnthrough rivet attachment 24 bisects the included angle between legs 28of embossment 26 so that the two legs of the embossment adjacent rivet24 diverge outwardly along opposite sides or the rivet. In can end 10,this means that the center line or longitudinal axis of tab 22 alsobisects the included angle between the legs of the embossment, but otherorientations of the tab will be apparent to those skilled in the art.For example, there are other tabs which could be used on a can end ofthe invention which are attached to can end in biased orientation withrespect to the peripheral edge of the can end. With such tabs, thelongitudinal axis of the tab would not bisect the included angle betweenlegs 28 of embossment 26.

To open a can end of the invention, the handle end of tab 22 is firstlifted to depress the portion of removable panel 20 which underlies thenose end of the tab and thereby rupture score line 18 adjacent the rivetattachment. When tab 22 is so lifted, a bend line 38 is formed inremovable panel 20 across the panel behind rivet 22 which results in adown-turned flange 32 on the removable panel as is illustrated in FIG.3. Flange 32 provides stiffening to removable panel 20 as tab 22 isfurther pulled to progressively rupture the score line 18 around bothsides of removable panel 20.

When tab 22 on can end 10 is pulled to rupture score line 18 around theremainder of removable panel 20, it is not necessary to hold the centerof the panel down as has been required with most prior art can ends. Ifdownward pressure were not applied against the center of such heretoforeknown can ends, the removable panels frequently domed upwardly placingthe score line in tension rather than in shear as is desired for easyrupture of the score. Some prior art can ends have included reinforcingmeans therein such as ribs or the like to help prevent doming of the canend while permitting the removable panel to bend along lines trans-'verse to the center line of the tab, but such reinforcing means have notbeen totally effective.

When tab 22 on can end 10 having an X-shaped embossment 26 in itsremovable panel 20 is pulled, a triangular-shaped lever section 36 isformed between depressed flange 32 and legs 28 of embossment 26 and suchlever section is fulcrumed or pivoted about a point 34 near the centerof the removable panel 20. This pivoting of triangular-shaped levf 36about the center of the panel prglessively lifts the starting end ofremovable panel to progressively shear score 18 in opposite directionsalong both sides of the removable panel. Such pivoting or fulcruming ofthe starting portion of the removable panel greatly facilitatesseverence of score line 18 and obviates any need to depress the centerof the panel during such opening. After opening has been initiated byrupturing score 18 around the starting end of removable panel 20, tab 22can be further pulled to complete rupture of the score around thecomplete circumference of the removable panel, as is illustrated in FIG.5, to separate the panel from the can end and can.

From the above description and the drawings appended hereto, it is seenthat this invention provides a can end with means for facilitatingrupture of the score around a removable panel in the can end bycontrolling bending of the panel. Although a preferred embodiment of theinvention has been selected for illustration and description, it will beapparent to those skilled in the art the numerous modifications can bemade in the can end without departing from the invention and the scopeof the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. In an easy opening can end having a circular score line thereindefining a removable panel and a substantially rigid pull tab attachedto the removable panel adjacent the score line, the improvementcomprising an X-shaped embossment substantially centered in theremovable panel and the centerline of the tab substantially bisectingthe included angle between two legs of the embossment.

2. An easy opening can end as set forth in claim 1 in which a downwardlyembossed finger well is located in the center of saidembossment. V

3. An easy opening can end as set forth in claim 2 in which said fingeris substantially square and the legs of the embossment extend radiallyfrom the corners of the finger well.

4. An easy opening can end having a circular score line defining aremovable panel and a tab attached to the removable panel near the scoreline, and further having an X-shaped embossment substantially centeredin the removable panel and oriented so that a diametrical line drawnthrough the means for attaching the pull tab to the removable panelbisects the included angle between two legs of the embossment.

5. An easy opening can end as set forth in claim 4 in which said tab issubstantially rigid.

6. An easy opening can end as set forth in claim 4 in which the legs ofsaid embossment have included angles of approximately therebetween.

7. An easy opening can end as set forth in claim 4 in which the legs ofthe embossment extend outwardly to within close proximity of said scoreline.

8. An easy opening end as set forth in claim 4 in which said embossmentis formed downward in the

1. In an easy opening can end having a circular score line thereindefining a removable panel and a substantially rigid pull tab attachedto the removable panel adjacent the score line, the improvementcomprising an X-shaped embossment substantially centered in theremovable panel and the centerline of the tab substantially bisectingthe included angle between two legs of the embossment.
 2. An easyopening can end as set forth in claim 1 in which a downwardly embossedfinger well is located in the center of said embossment.
 3. An easyopening can end as set forth in claim 2 in which said finger issubstantially square and the legs of the embossment extend radially fromthe corners of the finger well.
 4. An easy opening can end having acircular score line defining a removable panel and a tab attached to theremovable panel near the score line, and further having an X-shapedembossment substantially centered in the removable panel and oriented sothat a diametrical line drawn through the means for attaching the pulltab to the removable panel bisects the included angle between two legsof the embossment.
 5. An easy opening can end as set forth in claim 4 inwhich said tab is substantially rigid.
 6. An easy opening can end as setforth in claim 4 in which the legs of said embossment have includedangles of approximately 90*therebetween.
 7. An easy opening can end asset forth in claim 4 in which the legs of the embossment extendoutwardly to within close proximity of said score line.
 8. An easyopening end as set forth in claim 4 in which said embossment is formeddownward in the end.